Aga Brown

Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business

“Passionate supply chain and distribution analyst who loves to travel and experience the world.”

Age: 34

Hometown: Tuchola, Poland

Fun fact about yourself: In the past 10 years, I have lived in five different states and moved ten times.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Amherst College, Economics

Where are you currently working? I work at Tesla as Senior Analyst for Distribution

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I’m most proud of my direct role in developing Tesla’s distribution network. I helped with quantifying the data necessary to help the company decide where to open distribution centers, what parts to stock at each location, what shipping methods to use, and how to provide timely deliveries to the growing number of Tesla’s customers. It was also extremely rewarding to see how my decisions impacted the company’s growth, especially during my visits to the newly-opened distribution centers.

Why did you choose this school’s online MBA program? Tepper’s online program attracted me by providing the same rigorous curriculum as typical, full-time MBA programs are usually known for. At the same time, however, the school gave me the flexibility that I needed in order to be successful in my professional career. I did not have to sacrifice two years of work experience in order to obtain an MBA degree from a top institution. At Tepper, all of my classes were taught by the same professors who lectured full-time students, providing me with a high quality education accessible from my office at work or my living room.

What was your favorite part of being in an online MBA program? My favorite part of being in an online MBA program was the ability to learn a new skill in the classroom one day and being able to test it at work the next day. For example, while studying Optimization, I learned how to use the Excel Risk Solver app. I was able to test my knowledge of the new tool right away at work when I designed an optimized work distribution among different warehouse areas.

What was the most surprising thing about an online learning environment? Originally, I did not think that an online class could be so interactive. I thought that in an online environment students would not ask many questions or share stories from their experience, and teachers would not cold call students to check their knowledge of the material. My original expectation was far from reality. During all the lectures, students and teachers exhibited great amounts of engagement, which truly enriched the whole experience.

How did your online experience compare with your in-the-classroom experience as an undergraduate student? In my opinion, the only difference between the two experiences was the amount of time I spent with classmates outside of school. In college, I spent a significant amount of time socializing with my friends. Since many of my classmates in the MBA program live in various parts of the world, the opportunities to connect with them after school were limited to bi-monthly “access weekends” organized by Tepper.

What is your best piece of advice to an applicant for thriving in an online MBA program? Don’t get discouraged during the first semester. It is the hardest as you are just learning how to juggle school and work. It only gets easier after that!

How has your online education helped you in your current job? Currently, I am in the process of assembling my own team, which I do not think would be possible without the leadership skills I developed while pursuing my MBA.

If you had to do it all over again, would you? Why? Yes! It was an incredible experience that connected me to even more incredible individuals!

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? I want to open my own startup.

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